Malik still says no Blackwater in Pakistan

Islamabad, Jan.24 (ANI): Notwithstanding US Defence Secretary Robert Gates' admission regarding the presence of controversial US private security firm, Balckwater, in Pakistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has once again denied the existence of any private American security company in the country.

Malik said Gates has been misquoted by the media.

Malik said that Gates had told him that he fell prey to a 'conspiracy' and was misquoted.

"I state again with full responsibility, and according to the available record, there is no Blackwater in the country. It is just hype being created by certain elements," he said.

Malik said people who claim that the Blackwater is operating inside Pakistan should come forward and present documents to back their claims, The Daily Times reports.

Responding to a question regarding the trial Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving 26/11 attacker, Malik said : "We respect their (Indian) courts and they must respect ours," referring to India's allegations on Jammat-ud-Daawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

India considers Saeed as the mastermind of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, but Pakistan maintains that he had nothing to do with the ghastly attacks. (ANI)